Budget PC configuration for Online Class (<35k)

[sohan_92]

Hello Experts,

Hope you are doing well. Long time no see.

My cousin kid brother requires your help (more likely me ) to build a basic PC for attending online classes.

1. What is the purpose of the computer? What all applications and games are you going to run? (Be exact. Which games? Which applications? Avoid the word 'et cetera.' Vague answers like 'gaming' or 'office work' will not work.)
Ans: Attending online classes on zoom and other video broadcasting applications. Usage of browsers like chorme and mozila. Small scale multimedia usage such as watching videos and listening to music.

2. What is your overall budget? If you can extend a bit for a more balanced configuration, then please mention.
Ans: 35k INR. can be stretched a bit.

3. Planning to overclock?
Ans: No.

4. Which Operating System are you planning to use?
Ans: Windows 10

5. How much hard drive / solid-state drive space is needed?
Ans: 1 TB HDD. would be great if SSD can be can be included for OS drive.

6. Do you want to buy a monitor? If yes, please mention the screen size and resolution you prefer. If you already have a monitor and want to reuse it, then do mention the screen size and resolution of the monitor you have.
Ans: Yes. at least 23''. It is must to have a good Full HD monitor with IPS panel.

7. Which components you DON'T want to buy? i.e. which components you already have and plan on reusing?
Ans: None.

8. When are you planning to buy the system?
Ans: Next Month.

9. Have you ever built a desktop before? Or, will this be done by an assembler?
Ans: No. will be done by assembler.

10. Where do you live? Are you buying locally? Are you open to buying stuff from online shops if you don't get locally?
Ans: Buying locally.

11. Anything else which you would like to say?
Ans: Please include Basic speakers, wifi adapter (for connecting hotspots), keyboard, mouse and UPS in your suggestions. Also will it be a good idea to have portable CPU tower?

 

[Cool Buddy]

It has been a while since I suggested a PC config to someone. I am making an attempt here. Just wait for some feedback on this config and also try to look up reviews for the components if possible.

Here's my recommended config:

Component	Model	Capacity	Price	Optional
Motherboard	Asrock H470M-HDV		5,934​	​
	GIGABYTE H410M-H		​	6,200​
Processor	Intel Pentium Gold G6400		6,720​
RAM	Crucial Ballistix 8GB	8GB x 1	2,650​
Graphics card	N/a		-​
HDD	Seagate Barracuda	1 TB x 1	3,175​
SSD	N/a
Cabinet	Antec esports		2,400​
PSU	Corsair CV450		2,850​
Monitor	Benq GW2480 (Built-in speakers)		9,650​
Keyboard/mouse	Lenovo 100 Wireless combo		1,200​
Speaker	N/A (Included in monitor)
Others	TP Link Wi-fi adapter		600​
Total​			35,179​	35,445​

I have given 2 options for motherboard, Asrock one has 1xHDMI, 1xDVI, and 1xD-Sub, which means you can connect 2 monitors if you want (via DVI to HDMI cable). This board does not have an M.2 slot. Gigabyte one has 1xHDMI and 1xD-Sub but has an on-board M.2 slot. However, this only supports PCIe Gen 2. So you can take your pick.
Optionally, both of these can be added later, more display outputs using a graphics card and M.2 slot using a PCIe adapter. I'm not entirely sure if this motherboard will support booting through PCIe though, so check that.

It was not possible to incorporate an SSD in this budget, along with an HDD. However, if you want you can get a 240 GB SATA SSD instead of the HDD. But keep in mind that the performance difference between 3.5" HDD and SATA SSD is not as big as 2.5" HDD and SATA SSD.

Others, please suggest if any of these components have poor reviews.

Prices have been taken from primeabgb.com. Obviously there will be some variation based on where you buy it from.

 

[nac]

Most of the component's price have shot up, so you may have to shell out more than your budget.

Decide which CPU, cabinet, PSU you wanna go. That's gonna decide whether you will stay within your budget or not.

~32 - 41k
Pentium G6400 / i3 10100
Generic Cabinet or Branded one
Generic PSU or Antec Atom 450w or 80+ Bronze rated PSU from Corsair/CM

MSI H410M A Pro
8GB DDR4 2666Mhz
A2000 Nvme 250GB
Logitech KB & Mouse combo
22" IPS Monitor

250GB should be good enough for the use case, but if you want you can add 1TB HDD later. Have some more money if you want UPS as well.

 

[Cool Buddy]

MSI H410M A Pro

OP, this board is far better than the ones I suggested (specs wise), it has HDMI+DVI and two M.2 slots. And it is compatible with that processor.

 

[whitestar_999]

But keep in mind that the performance difference between 3.5" HDD and SATA SSD is not as big as 2.5" HDD and SATA SSD.

This is completely wrong, there is a night & day difference between any current cheapest ssd & any traditional hdd(2.5" or 3.5").

@sohan_92 Get generic intex etc cabinet for around 600-700 & use the money saved to get kingston A400(or crucial BX500 as 2nd option) 120/240gb ssd.

 

[TheSloth]

I am not sure its wise to have DRAM less SSDs with small sizes and without another HDD in same system. Over the period of time, the SSD will fill and system will slow down. Unless OP keeps clearing the SSD with unnecessary data regularly.

 

[Cool Buddy]

This is completely wrong, there is a night & day difference between any current cheapest ssd & any traditional hdd(2.5" or 3.5").

I never said there isn't a big difference between HDD and SSD. I just said that the performance boost on desktops is not as big as that on laptops (simply because 3.5" drives, usually 7200 RPM, are way faster than 5400 RPM 2.5" drives), which is fairly correct.

My HDD based laptop bought in 2013 used to boot in about 4 minutes, when I last used it with HDD, SSD brought it down to about 1 minute 15 seconds.
My HDD based desktop, with an HDD dating back to around 2012 still boots in under 90 seconds.

 

[whitestar_999]

I never said there isn't a big difference between HDD and SSD. I just said that the performance boost on desktops is not as big as that on laptops (simply because 3.5" drives, usually 7200 RPM, are way faster than 5400 RPM 2.5" drives), which is fairly correct.

My HDD based laptop bought in 2013 used to boot in about 4 minutes, when I last used it with HDD, SSD brought it down to about 1 minute 15 seconds.
My HDD based desktop, with an HDD dating back to around 2012 still boots in under 90 seconds.

Typical 1tb 7200rpm hdd:

Cheapest 120gb ssd:

It is the 4k Q1T1 speeds which matters most for OS loading & typical tasks & see the difference, cheapest ssd is 79 times faster in 4k read speed & 96 times faster than 4k write speeds of a typical 7200rpm 3.5" hdd. Your comparison example is also flawed, you compare hdd & ssd performance in same system not different system & you yourself mention having ssd 3 times faster than hdd in same system/laptop. Clone your desktop hdd to a ssd(with condition that at least 10% of available ssd size remain free after copy) & it will boot in similarly around one third of the current boot time(i.e. under 30 seconds).

 

[sohan_92]

Thanks folks for the suggestions. Let me check with the local vendor for the item availability and exact pricing.